Half were for cannabis and more than a third for alcohol, but fewer teenagers had crack cocaine and heroin habits.

Last year the agency treated 657 crack and heroin users, down from 1,081 in 2005/06.

Experts believe the rise in cocaine addiction can be attributed to
its 'glamorous image' and availability at 'pocket money' prices.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Norman Lamb said: 'There is a real
problem with young people receiving mixed messages because of the
alleged glamour associated with drugs like cocaine.

'We need to get the message across about the danger of experimenting with a massively addictive drug like cocaine.

'The Government has been obsessed with trying to look tough while slashing funding for information services.'

The NTA figures also show that the rise in the number of cocaine
users seeking treatment has been particularly marked among young
adults.

More than 5,000 under-30s sought help last year, up from 2,700 in
2005/06. This drove a leap of two thirds in those across all age groups
seeking help for cocaine addition, from 5,095 new cases to 8,491.

The number of crack cocaine and heroin addicts aged 40 or over rose
sharply. Experts have attributed this trend to long-term heroin users
getting older.

Rosanna O'Connor, of the NTA, said the figures indicated the heroin
'epidemic' had peaked. The falls reflect similar declines in crack and
heroin use among young adults aged 18 to 24.

But drugs charities are not convinced the drugs epidemic has peaked.

Drugs expert Kathy Gyngell, from the Centre for Policy Studies,
said: 'In the past, cocaine has been seen as a glamorous drug but now
it's worse than that.

'It is seen as perfectly normal and routine for huge numbers of young people - no more of a big deal than cannabis.'